As the parent of kids with special needs, appointments are just another of the fun things in our lives...
First they need to be made.
And this can be a very loooooong process.
Letter, email, phone call, message, follow up phone call, shouting match with receptionist, apology to receptionist...
until finally...
The letter arrives and you breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Then you open it and see the appointment, and it clashes with:
a) Work
b) The school run
c) Another appointment
So the process starts all over again ...
Finally you get a date and time that work and the day dawns.
And of course you've planned everything like a military campaign. Your child has been given a diagnosis of special needs for a reason: they may need wheelchair accessible facilities, dislike lots of people and noise, be on a special diet. Get it wrong and OMG, actually let's not go there.
At this stage Smiley and I cope quite well. We have the Smileymobile which is allowed to park in disabled spots - though wheeling her out the back can sometime stop on-coming traffic. Then her buggy and wheelchair are so huge they are like driving a tank - people just scatter in all directions as we approach.
But the key thing is what is in Smiley's bag. This is our survival kit.
Today it contained the following:
ipod nano x 1
nappies x 1
drinks x 3
chocolate buttons x 1 packet
pink hairbrush x 1
sparkly handbag x 1
The appointments letter stated that we could be there for a number of hours, so I was hoping I had enough stuff to keep her entertained. But today, luck was on our side and we were out by 10 o'clock, after the consultant said her legs looked fine and that she appeared to be very well looked after - well yeah I hope so!
While we were waiting we had fun with a very large mirror and the camera phone:
So do you have an appointments survival kit, and if so, what is in it?
My survival kit is huge because I have to bring along things for my poor unfortunate baby who gets dragged along with us, so it's like a large baby bag x 2!! I have to say I hate the waiting around, I find it very stressful, especially if one of them is cranky. They get bored so easily no matter how well I prepare, sigh. Jen.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of all the appointments I went for over the years and never brought an appointment bag, only to leave with a screaming terrified child without fully finishing the consultation ! I must have been so stressed that I didn't think things out logically these days however we go to appointments usually with a promise of something that little man really wants badly this can be anything from a superhero suit to a tattoo!! excellent post candi
ReplyDeleteOurs is like a small suitcase, as Belle has to tag along too! So we have books, colouring stuff, buttons, lollipops, wipes, nappy sacks (for rubbish), small toys, DS, DS games and recently the iTouch! Phew! I've got the hang of getting it all together by now, and can be ready to go in 5 minutes flat! Lovely post xx
ReplyDeleteThankfully it's very simple for us...the DS was designed by the gods!!!! (plus a change of clothes in case of accidents)
ReplyDeleteReally good post to consider. XXX
I love the 'sparkly handbag x 1' no girl should be without one. I don't have kids but do have a hubby who frets if we leave the house without food!! so the car is always stocked like a mobile canteen!!
ReplyDeleteThe invention of the portable DVD has been our godsend and other children waiting like to have a look too - never thought I'd say that TV could be a sociable activity! Also, when ds has an appointment with consultant who's mainly seeing NT kids and I know we've all been issued the same time, I always have a quiet word with the nurse on duty. So far so good. When she (always a she!)hears autism and can't wait , she prioritises him on list and moves us to a quiet waiting area. Bless
ReplyDeleteiPhone,
ReplyDeleteChocolate Buttons (they are the business!)
The "right type" of orange juice!
Change of clothes
Thats her kit...
mine just includes valium!
:)
And what kind of drinks would those be? ;P
ReplyDeleteYes Blue Sky, we certainly DID have an appointment bag...only needed for the rare medical appointments these days as we no longer get clinical ones. But it's also are "travel anywhere" bag too! These days it contains snacks and a drink and today's favourite toys: iTouch and Nintendo DSI (must be given it's full title!!)
ReplyDeleteLove the photo!
xx Jazzy
Another excellent post! Thanks so much for your comment at Caleigh's Corner. Really helps to hear it from another Mom. Barbara
ReplyDelete@Jen: the long waits can be really tough xx
ReplyDelete@Popsie: thanks!
@Taz: iTouch is great, Angel is surgically attached to hers.
@Jean: Yep, the DS goes everywhere CD goes too.
@Helen: Food is important as well, especially for long waits.
@lorraine: I never remember to charge the DVD player, though sometimes I have found a socket!
@Petunia: We have to have the 'right' drinks as well for both Smiley and CD.
@mammydiaries: Ooh let's guess...
@jazzygal: travel anywhere bags are good.
@TherExtras: thanks Barbara! Your blog is inspirational :)
iPhone and iPod touch. All the visual schedules, pecs and saved videos are enclosed in those little beauties. Mcdonalds always follows an appointment so we have our first and then sorted.
ReplyDeleteI always carry a few apple juices for Grace as you can't get those in Irish takeaway, and my anti bacterial hand gel.
I must admit I have never worried about badly planned clinical appointments, never hurts a therapist to experience a real child in full force. xx
crikey, appointments - the bane of my life! i think that they are worse because i'm a doctor and i expect so much more from them... an appointment survival kit is a wonderful idea - i mean we have one for going to friends, going on the train, going on holiday, so why not for hospital appointments too? our next appointment is in a few weeks time so will put one together for that. do you think it would be bad to include a juice bottle of gin for me? (and valium as per @petunia - great suggestion by the way!)
ReplyDeleteWe don't have as much stress as you do when it comes to appointments BECAUSE anything and everything we do has be done private! Government hospitals are a no go!
ReplyDeleteLove the sparkly handbag :D
P.S. How are Angel's travel plans coming along?
@Hammie - Now I know what aspergers involves I too am quite happy for therapists to see him in full flow - it's different for Smiley x
ReplyDelete@ever hopeful mummy - go for it :)
@Di - that's scary that everything has to be private, I wonder how many kids are missing out as a result?